A Hidden Element (29 page)

He trudged on when a voice inside his head smote him down.

Weakling!

He dropped to his knees in terror, haunted by his father's voice.
Yes, father.

Go to the well. Now.

This was where his subconscious had been leading him. He staggered up, numb. His feet were cut from scraping on shards of snowy ice. He left bloody footprints with each step.

Trees held him up as he lurched along. Not far. He had built it to punish Caleb, the weak one, but now Caleb was strong—and
he
was weak. His father had said so. It had to be true. His entire life had been a lie. Wretched self-loathing devoured him.

The cover to the well waited for him. He wrapped his hands around the handle, his fingers blue.
Help me, father.
He strained. His fingers jerked and he slid the cover off.

Get down in there, Son. Face your fears. You will never be anything if you're weak.

Yes, Father.

Adrian slowly backed down into the well. His feet slipped on the rungs and he fell, crashing down into the icy realm with a splash. Caleb's words crashed into him with truth, 'Deliver me from evil men. Throw them into deep pits from which they cannot escape.'

The cold blasted him in his pit of suffering. He screamed in agony. He shook and tried to hold still. He would not thrash. He would be strong. He could suffer like Caleb and be strong.

Do not fight the pain. It will give you great power, in life and death. Let hate rise you up.

Yes, Father.

He embraced his suffering this time. He would not beg for release. He looked up at the wintry sky. The sun hung over him gracing him with its rays.

Manta, come to me.

They had created warmth in their love. He had known love once.

But she did not come to him now.

Snow kissed his face. As Manta once had.

So much softness.

He drifted away in it.

The fire-bolt streaked across them. It struck their two pursuers and they were sucked from the air into a portal on the side of the wall. Their screams severed the silence. A blinding flash burst and they were gone. A scarf swirled and glided down. It landed and then the wind took it and flung it away again. It skipped across the drifts and disappeared.

Charlie dragged Laura up, but she floundered in the snow.

"Run, Mom! To their ATVs."

She stumbled after him. Exhaustion gripped her as she struggled to move through the deep snow. Benny protested against her with each step.

"Charlie, there's nowhere to go."

"They're gonna kill us now." He yanked her arm heading toward the dead Elyons' vehicles.

"No," she said and pulled away from him. "They would have killed us by now. They saved us."

Panting, he jerked around. "Who?"

"The ones in the ship. They've come again."

The gray mass shone under the sun. At first it looked like one solid construction but looking closer there were seams in it. They ran in uniform shapes. Like entryways.

And then one of the seams glowed. Its square outline radiated light.

"Mom, look."

They clung to each other. Awe flooded through Laura at the possibilities of what this ship meant. She gripped her eldest son's hand while pressing her youngest to her chest. The seams glowed brighter, radiating out.

"Mom, let's go!"

Charlie's fear swept over her as he pulled on her. But she was not afraid.

"No. It's our destiny."

He stood still, accepting her words. "It's opening."

They stood in the snow amongst trees that had grown on their world for millions of years. Wood giants that had died and replanted themselves with seeds in the wind, as humans evolved and civilization grew around them. They stood and watched as this thing, surely from another place across the universe, opened itself up before them like the massive unveiling of a new world. It was real, not just in her dreams. She was a bridge to it.

The seams broke away. Light poured out. The massive door opened before them like on a giant hinge.

"Oh, my God," Charlie whispered.

"They must have a god, too," she said. Charlie nodded, not taking his eyes off the ship. Snow pillows floated down from the trees. The scent of pine wafted across. The placement of this foreign thing hung surreal in the serene wintry wilderness. It wouldn't be hidden for long.

The door unfolded. Yellow light spilled from it. Figures grew before them.

Laura stood with her sons and waited for their destiny, helpless and amazed.

The community had gone back to work after celebrating the coming of Caleb. He now gathered with the elders in the sanctuary.

Tollen was silent and resigned it seemed to his reduced stature. He now spoke. "When did you know of your special powers to bring the dead back?"

"I've been aware of them since I was a child."

"Why wait until now to show our community this?"

The elders looked at him, waiting. "My father was the leader. I did not want that role. I did not want to give in to my Destroyer gene. I wanted to help those less fortunate."

"What of those who died naturally?"

"I figured it was their time to pass peacefully. Their fate."

The elders nodded except Tollen.

"And all of our executed people buried up on the hill—"

"Most of them I dug up, revived, and set free."

"They are out there amongst the humans?"

"Yes." Rachel appeared in his mind and his heart ached.

"And Adrian?"

"I no longer sense his presence in this world. He is out there in the woods."

"Dead."

Caleb nodded and stood taller. He could rule. He never wanted to before but now his father had met his end. Destiny. And after this meeting the first thing he would do was begin his own destiny—visit his sons.

"It's time for a new era for Elyons," he said louder. Hope filled him with strength. "It's time the humans knew us. We must co-exist in harmony. We must trust they won't turn their backs on a civilization in need, even one that came under malevolent forces. Those forces are gone now. It's time to take a risk. Stop hiding. Start being part of this Earth, not hidden but in full view. Stop giving into our Destroyer genes. It does not make life, it destroys it."

"We risk much," one elder said.

"Yes. They'll discover what we're capable of," said another. "Use us as experiments."

"Maybe not," Caleb said. "There are too many of us for them to hide. Perhaps they'll come to understand there is much we can learn from each other. And there is Laura and her family. Have you informed her pursuers to retain her?"

"Yes."

A male burst into the sanctuary, out of breath.

"You found the human, Ben? Is he all right?" Caleb had seen him in his mind out in the snow and sent another party to bring him in to safety. Laura and her family would be reunited. Like he hoped soon for himself. First he had to take care of business.

The male shook his head. "No, but a ship has landed."

They all stared at him, as if not believing. Caleb's heart pumped loud in his ears. "An Elyon ship?"

"Yes. A mile past the perimeter. Our people messaged back and then communication was cut."

"Do they have Laura and her sons?"

"I don't know."

Caleb looked at the elders. This changed everything.

"I'm going." He strode to the door. "Alone."

He spoke to the wide-eyed messenger on the way out. "Put the community on lockdown. Everyone return to their rooms."

The messenger nodded and rushed out.

Tollen grabbed him as he passed by. "Careful, Caleb. Our people would hate to see their new leader struck down because of a miscommunication. Do you understand?"

Caleb felt the animosity roll off the elder who gripped him. He stared into Tollen's angry eyes and shook away the hand that held him. A force filled him like he'd never felt before. Strength resonated through him. He could truly make a difference now and relieve his people of the dark that had imprisoned them for so long.

"There will be no miscommunication," Caleb said in a low, steady voice. "We will meet our people with truth in our words. There will be no more lies and deception—and death. Do
you
understand, Brother?"

Tollen held his stare then stepped back and folded his hands. "Yes, Brother Caleb."

Satisfied with the elder's submission, Caleb nodded and ran out the door.

He would have to wait to be with his sons.

They came to Ben in his dreams.

An Elyon looked down at him with kind eyes. He had dark hair like Caleb but eyes like Laura. He spoke with his voice this time.

"Adrian hijacked our ship readied and bound for Earth years ago. We had peaceful intentions. We did not know he was an Underground Destroyer. He came here with his own evil purpose."

"He wants my family."

"No longer. His time is done. We've been working for years to create another ship with our limited resources so that we could come here. This is where you must help us, Ben Fieldstone. You and Laura and Charlie. This is our last chance to survive. Elyon is a ticking time bomb, as you say. Few survivors remain. The last few years have plunged us into an ice age."

"I will help you. My wife is part of your world. And my sons. If I ever see them again." His voice cracked. The Elyon placed his hand on his arm. A strange hand. Like Charlie's. Pale, smooth, and without nails. Warmth melted into him. And love. It overwhelmed him.

"You will, Ben."

He woke up.
Laura.

Energy poured into his body.

"I have to rescue my family." He jumped up. They had to hear him with their omniscient presence.

And they did.

Your family comes to us. As do your people.

A door slid open. Yellow light flooded in. He had not seen a door there before. He wiped his mouth and ran out. A figure stood there. The one from his dream. The being held out his hand and smiled.

Come, Ben Fieldstone.

And he did.

Laura looked up at the open door to another world. She stared at the shadows that watched them from above. The government would find them. They had to be watching and waiting, as they always had. Adrian had come undercover. These Elyons did not. What would that mean for her and her family? Would her own government imprison them, experiment on them, as they did her twin?

Her pulse ping-ponged inside as if trying to find release. Charlie's rushed fast too from his wrist as his hand wound tight around hers. Benny's tiny heart beat fast and steady into her breast. All her hearts were here. But Ben's. His wild and loyal heart had been silenced forever somewhere behind her.

Engines rumbled far in the distance. They looked behind them.

"Mom, more of them."

Then a great light flashed.

The last thing she saw were Charlie's eyes wide open.
I want to live.

And they were sucked away like the others.

Caleb pushed the throttle on the vehicle faster, pushing it beyond the limit across the snow dunes. The vehicle rocked. He leaned into a turn, avoiding a tree. He sent his mind out seeking these humans he had come to care for, but he found no human life in the vast white wilderness. Charlie and Laura could be blocking themselves from being sought out.
The baby was too small to be sought. He had no will yet.
But where was Ben? Dead?

And then his past and future rose before him. He slammed on his brakes then sped up. His people were here.

He raced toward the ship then skidded to a stop. He jumped off his vehicle and waded through the snow toward it.

Laura. Charlie.

He looked up at the open door that welcomed him.

Charlie still gripped her hand. They were in a long tunnel. Yellow light glowed all around them. They were in the ship. They weren't dead. Cold blew behind them and then faded as the door they came through sealed shut.

Charlie bent to look at Benny. "He's okay. We're okay."

"It was a transport system."

They walked down the tunnel. It felt supple and soft, molding itself to their feet as they walked.

"Where are we going?" Charlie tugged on her sleeve. Silence hung all around them like they were in their own peaceful bubble floating away.

A gray figure appeared far away. It took shape.

A familiar figure that held her world.

Ben. Wonderful, alive Ben.

She ran.

Yellow shimmered around him.

He took her in her arms. She breathed in, drawing his smell deep in to her memory, tucking it away forever.

"They saved me," he whispered in her hair. "Like you did long ago, Laura. I got another second chance." They embraced until Benny's cries of protest pried them apart. Ben reached his hand down to touch him but Laura stepped back and held her crying son to her chest.

"We all need second chances."

He looked at her puzzled. She stared at him, holding this moment close before he saw what she had born into this world.

She offered him their son. "Benny."

Ben looked at him then back at her. He touched her son's fingers to his own. Benny's cries slowed.
That monster…did this. He was with you…inside you…in our home. In our home! They weren't dreams.
He snatched his fingers away and stared at her, a frown cutting his forehead in two.

No
,
they weren't.
She couldn't bear it if he couldn't accept this. She reached an arm out, desperate for his love and acceptance, but he stepped back.

"That monster tore our family apart." Ben closed his eyes as if the sight of Benny sickened him.

"No. Never. It's over. He couldn't stop us from being family." She dared to believe he could believe it, too. Benny was the only good thing to come from this place.

"Come on, Dad," Charlie pleaded.

"Hope needs a second chance, too," Laura whispered.

"It must be the desired outcome," Ben finally said and opened his eyes to stare at her.

"Destiny." She smiled at him.

"Fate."

"Forever." Laura handed the baby to him.

Ben hesitated then took their son, and she thanked God for bringing them all together.

"Your son," he said and smoothed down Benny's hair. A curl popped up. Benny cooed and twitched his pink fingers.

"
Our
son. He grew with us as our son."

"I wanted to be with you, Laura. I—I wasn't there for you when you needed me most." His voice broke and he quickly handed Benny back to her, as if he couldn't stand to touch this baby that was made inside her by a monster.

"We can accept this child and break the chain of evil. Love overcomes all, doesn't it?"
Please tell me it does.

"Like love remembers?" he said sadly, but it whispered into her open heart.

She nodded and the great pain that threatened to split her apart melted away. "Love remembers."

Ben looked over to Charlie, who stood on the side shuffling his feet.

"Dad, I'm, I'm—"

Ben grabbed him and hugged him.

They stood there for a long time and while Charlie stood taller than his dad, he still cried in arms like a little kid. Charlie had finally let his armor go.

"Charlie-boy, you're all I want you to be," Ben said, his voice cracking.

"Normal?"

"There's no such thing as being normal. Not on any world."

"Like being big doesn't mean you're brave—only big of heart does?"

Ben laughed. "That's right, Charlie-boy."

"I'm sorry I've been so hard to…love."

"Love is hard, but you don't ever give up." Ben shared a look with Laura over Charlie's shoulder.

"I wanted to give up."

"I know. I'm sorry if I made you feel this way."

"Not you, Dad. All these years, Adrian had turned me against you. I'm so sorry."

"I'm sorry, too, but now we have a new chance to begin again."

"New beginnings," Laura said and moved into her men. Hearts connected. All different but sustained by love.

She had said she would survive the evil that preyed on them and she did. They all did.

Their hearts were as one again.

"What now?" Ben turned to her. They stood in the tunnel, unsure what to do. "I don't know. But you can't hide a ship like this in the wilderness forever."

"Who'll find us?" Charlie looked at them both.

"Military Special Forces," Ben said. "First responders. I'm sure the government's been watching for them to come again."

"How will they be to us?" Charlie looked at Laura, his voice rising and panic in his eyes. "They'll find out about the Destroyers and what they've done…can do. What
we
can do."

Laura put her hand on Charlie's. "Human or Elyon. Good can win out. It's never too late. And we can hope. It's all we've got. And each other." She had to trust it would be enough.

Cold covered them.

"Look," Charlie pointed. "The door is opening again." He ran toward it.

"Wait, Charlie!" Ben ran after him. She followed.

Ben yanked Charlie back from the door but Laura peered down.

Caleb stood below.

He looked up at her. His bright green eyes bore into hers even across the distance. She opened her mind to him, but he spoke first.

Adrian is dead.

Three little words. They emboldened her with faith for a future.

"Caleb?" Ben moved forward. Charlie waved down at him. He waved back.

"He saved us," Laura whispered.

"All of us," Ben said.

You can be with your sons now, Caleb.

Yes, we're free now.

All of us.

We need not be weary of living anymore.

A humming grew beneath their feet. A ledge pushed out from the door entrance. It grew into an arched metal path beneath their feet with guardrails to hold on to. It extended to the ground and the humming stopped.

Elyons filled the space behind them. They were ready. They had traveled across the universe for this. A final chance to live.

The three of them held hands. Laura headed down the path first. They walked toward a new future for people everywhere and the Elyons followed. She connected them to Earth. Caleb watched her descend. She neared the ground and she stared into his eyes as he grew close. She would keep their intimate moments hidden in her heart forever. He had been kind to her in a place that had held no kindness.

Then a great bashing noise cut through the wintry air. The cracking of trees thundered in a deafening split as if ripped apart. A battalion of tanks smashed through the woods. Men in full-body white suits and helmets moved stealthily between the trees, blending in to the arctic landscape, guns poised. They were surrounded on all sides now, with the ship behind them.

Ben wound his fingers tight through hers. She clung back. They all froze on the path.

Tell your people to
s
tay still, Caleb.

He nodded.

"Mom, will they shoot us? Shoot the Elyons?"

"No." But her heart pounded when she said it.

The tanks rolled to a stop, guns aimed at them. Watching and waiting. As they had been for years.

Human facing alien. Would this be a new beginning or an end?

Their breaths hung in the air in terrified anticipation.

Caleb flicked his eyes back and forth from Laura to the army that stood positioned to kill them.

Then a figure stepped out from behind Laura and her family on the path.

Uncle Brahm.

I'm here for you, Son.

With his presence and words the seed of hope planted inside Caleb swelled and grew. He had never truly belonged on Elyon or here, but he had belonged with Brahm. And for the first time in a long, long time—even with guns locked and loaded to kill him—he felt like he was home.

"Stop!" a loud voice boomed over a tank speaker.

Soldiers moved between the trees, guns ready to fire.

Laura held up her hands. "We're here peacefully. We've been taken against our will but not by these people here."

An armed man stepped out of the tank and raised his gun. He trudged through the snow, his gun steady on them, and stopped a few feet away. Caleb couldn't see his face behind his shield, a faceless human holding his fate in his hands. The snow whipped up in frenzied waves battling with the sun that pushed the clouds away and held the promise of warmth on Caleb's shoulders.

Brahm's voice rose loud over the sudden thundering silence. "Our planet is dying. We are a peaceful people but for a few dissenters."

"Stand down," the man yelled, swinging his gun at Brahm. His comrades followed his line of sight. The wind scattered the snow in violent bursts.

"Please, help us," Brahm said in a deeper voice. He bowed then looked at Caleb.
Our moment is now. Starting a new path for our world to follow.

If this world accepts us.

Have hope.

You bring it with you.

The soldier shifted his feet and moved closer. "I'm in charge of this operation. We're here to secure and quarantine this area." His tinny voice cut through his helmet, adding to their divide.

"We need shelter," Laura said. Her baby cried out at her breast. All eyes and guns twitched toward her.

The man spoke into a device. Immediately the remaining soldiers rushed in. More humans in white suits and helmets, carrying equipment. Tents were set up. Hoses connected. Lights installed. And a small group descended upon them. Laura held her baby closer. Ben wrapped his arms around the little family.

"Don't hurt them," Caleb yelled.

Then an engine rumbled on the wind. Louder it raced. A vehicle rocketed through the air from around a tree. It headed straight for Caleb.

Tollen. And two small, dark heads.

Jeremiah and Josiah! My sons! No!

Caleb saw the hate on Tollen's face. Faster he sped toward him, with his sons.

In slow motion Caleb saw Ben push his family down.

He heard high-pitched screams carried on the wind.

He saw Brahm dragging their people back up the ramp.

He saw the human soldiers take cover and raise their guns.

The ATV launched off a crusted drift of snow and hung in the air. Two pairs of frightened eyes stared into his.

"You'll never get your sons," Tollen screamed. "They'll die as mine did!"

Guns blazed.

Caleb threw himself left, avoiding death by milliseconds, and smashed hard into packed snow. Smoke exploded across the woods. Tollen catapulted off his ATV, dragging the boys with him. They struggled against their kidnapper. More shots rang out. Tollen jerked back. The ATV sputtered and was still.

So was Tollen. His blood seeped around him in a red wave.

And then he stood.

Caleb pushed himself up and ran to Jeremiah and Josiah, struggling against the deep snow. They huddled together, heads down.

A soldier yelled. "Stop!"

Tollen lunged for Caleb's sons, grabbed them by their hoods, and dragged them back.

"No!" Caleb tripped on a chunk of snow and fell to his knees. He staggered up.

"Stop or I'll shoot again."

But Caleb couldn't. Just a few more steps.

Rat-tat-tat.

Tollen twisted in the air and flew back and Caleb stumbled. His sons looked up. He reached out for them but couldn't move.

Laura was yelling, but he couldn't hear her words. Pain radiated into his legs and one arm. He fell on his side. The cold sliced into him like a razor. His own blood spilled outward. Flakes floated around his head. The world blurred.

Laura's sobs punched the air's painful silence after the deafening gunfire.

He lifted his head to look at the soldier in charge. "Please. They're my sons."

The man shook his head. "Be still!"

"No. I need to save the one you shot."

The soldier jerked his gun at Tollen. "He's dead."

"I can bring him back to life."

He took a chance and started crawling toward Tollen.

"Don't make me shoot you again."

Out of the corner of his eye the soldiers took a collective step closer, their guns poised in a succinct line. He sensed their anxiety of this unknown. One shot from them all and he'd be gone in a second. There'd be no one to bring Tollen back.